Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) October 28, 2026 – Fifteen prominent media outlets, journalists’ associations, and press freedom organizations have jointly appealed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, demanding immediate improvements in journalists’ access to public documents. The coalition highlights systemic hurdles, including long delays, extensive redactions, and outright refusals by European Union institutions that obstruct public interest reporting and democratic accountability.
Growing Press Freedom Concerns Regarding European Union Transparency
The formal appeal, launched on October 28, 2026, addresses mounting difficulties faced by media workers attempting to scrutinise matters of public importance within European Union institutions. Signatories to the open letter emphasize that access to institutional records is a fundamental legal right enshrined under European Union law, specifically under Article 15 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
However, participating media organizations state that the reality of requesting administrative and political records often falls short of these legal guarantees. Journalists routinely encounter administrative bottlenecks that prevent timely and effective coverage of political and financial decisions affecting European citizens.
Signatories and Coalition Backing Behind the Open Letter
The initiative has garnered support from a diverse and influential coalition of international and regional press freedom defenders. Among the 15 prominent organizations that signed the document are the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Press Institute (IPI), Article 19, Index on Censorship, Free Press Unlimited, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Investigate Europe, Follow the Money, Forbidden Stories, PEN International, Netzwerk Recherche, and EUobserver.
These bodies collective represent thousands of investigative journalists and media professionals operating across Europe and internationally. Their joint intervention underscores a shared concern that current administrative practices within the European Commission are increasingly restrictive.
Core Demographics and Systematic Obstacles Highlighted in the Appeal
According to the coalition’s open letter, media workers seeking essential records face multiple structural barriers. These obstacles include prolonged waiting periods for information requests, extensive redactions that obscure vital details of public expenditure and policy formulation, and complete refusals to disclose relevant files.
Furthermore, the letter points out instances where crucial institutional records are allegedly not archived properly, rendering comprehensive historical and contemporary public scrutiny impossible. The signatories argue that these persistent limitations directly undermine the ability of citizens to hold European decision-makers fully accountable for their political and financial actions.
Institutional Context and Recent European Ombudsman Inquiries
This coordinated appeal coincides with heightened scrutiny regarding the European Commission’s handling of information requests. Recent developments include an ongoing inquiry by the European Ombudsman into the European Commission’s refusal to disclose specific documents relating to infrastructure projects in the Gaza Strip. Following an initial request and subsequent unanswered appeals by media outlets such as EUobserver, the European Ombudsman set deadlines for the Commission to respond or face direct examination of the disputed files.
Critics and press freedom advocates argue that transparency is vital not only for legal compliance but for maintaining public trust in European democratic institutions. The coalition’s appeal calls upon the executive leadership of the European Union to rectify these procedural shortcomings and align everyday administrative practices with the transparency principles repeatedly endorsed in official state addresses.
